Fold your shorts in half. Make sure that the front pockets are on the outside. Trace the outline of your folded shorts on craft paper. Add 1 inch (2. 5 cm) around the bottom and sides of the pattern for a seam allowance. Add 1. 5 inches (4 cm) to the top of the pattern for a waistband. Cut the pattern out with scissors.
The long side or center of the pattern should be placed along the folded edge of the fabric. For a more accurate approach, sketch the outline of the pattern onto your material.
Fold your fabric in half and lay your pattern out on top, with the long side of the pattern along the folded edge. Pin in place. Cut around the pattern to form another piece.
More specifically, pin along the two rounded seams of each piece. These seams are the ones you will be stitching together next, so keeping them evenly aligned is essential at this point.
If sewing by hand, use a backstitch. Allow for a 1 inch (2. 5 cm) seam allowance. You should be left with what appears to be a single connected “tube” of fabric.
After sewing the two separated pieces together, the sewn seams will be on the outside edges. You’ll need to rotate the shorts so that these seams are down the vertical center and evenly aligned with each other. These sewn seams will end up forming the crotch of the shorts.
Use seam allowance of 1 inch (2. 5 cm). Sew these sides together using a zig-zag stitch. These seems will fall out along the inner thigh.
Fold over the top 2 inches (5 cm). This should give you enough room for the waistband elastic. Sew a straight stitch with your sewing machine or a backstitch by hand. Leave a small hole along the seam so that you can thread the elastic through it.
The elastic should be about the same size as your waist, minus roughly 3 inches (7. 6 cm). Since elastic needs to stretch to stay secure, this extra space will make sure that the shorts stay snug on your waist. Clip a safety pin to one end of the elastic to make it easier to feed the band through. Alternatively, tape the elastic to a long chopstick to make it easier to feed through. Pull both ends of the elastic through their respective openings along the waistband. Hold them taut as you zig-zag stitch the elastic together and the opening closed.
Use a seam allowance of about 1/2 inch (1. 25 cm). Make sure that you do not sew the front and back of the shorts together. You need to sew the hemmed fabric around the opening of the leg. When done, turn the shorts right-side out again and try them on.
You can find the pattern used in conjunction with these instructions here: http://www. craftpassion. com/wp-content/uploads/PDF%20Pattern/Boxer%20Short%20Pattern. pdf As you print the pattern out, set the printer for A4 paper and do not check the “scale printing” box. Follow the instructions on the pattern to piece everything together. Each corner is labeled with numbers, and you can create the full pattern by matching these numbers together. Cut the patterns out and tape them together at the appropriate places.
For added accuracy, use a piece of chalk or sewing pencil to sketch an outline of the pattern onto the wrong side of the fabric after pinning the two items together. Note that the seam allowance is included in most patterns, included the one provided here. Fold the lining fabric so that it becomes a double layer. When pinning the waist band lining, pin the pattern with the “fold” marking lined up with this folded edge.
Use sharp sewing shears for this. Cut the pieces out in reverse order. In other words, the last piece you need should be the first piece you cut out, and the first piece you need should be the last you cut out. This way, as you stack the pieces together, you will end up with the first piece on top of the stack.
Use an iron to press all four edges of the pocket pieces. Before pinning the pockets to the shorts fabric, double top stitch the top hem of the pocket. This edge will be the pocket opening. After doing these two steps, you can pin and sew the back pockets in place as described.
Use an iron to press all four edges of the pocket pieces. Before pinning the pockets to the shorts fabric, double top stitch the top hem of the pocket. This edge will be the pocket opening. Pin the pocket pieces onto the correct portions of the shorts pattern as marked on the patter itself. Use a double top stitch to sew the sides and bottom of the pocket in place.
Pin the pieces together with the right sides facing each other. Trim one side of the seam to 3/8-inch (9. 5 mm) using sharp sewing shears. Clip curve the bottom of the crotch seam, as well. Use a flat felled seam to sew the crotch seam up.
After sewing the inseam, serge or overlock the raw edge to prevent excess fraying. To sew the side seams, use a flat felled seam method.
Press the bottom hem with an iron to create a sturdy fold.
The joint of the lining should line up evenly with the center of the back waist portion.
Make sure that the elastic will fit snug on the wearer’s waist. Measure around the wearer’s waist. Take this measurement and subtract 3 inches (7. 6 cm) from it so that the elastic band has room to stretch out.
Pin the elastic to the center of the back waist. Fold the band in half, and pin it to the center of the front waist. Divide the band into a few other equally spaced points along the lining, pinning it to the fabric in another eight to ten places. Fold the lining edge in the band with the wrong side facing out. Sew along the edge while stretching the elastic band gently. Turn the shorts so that the right side faces out. Gently stretch the elastic and double top stitch about 1/4 inch (6. 35 mm) away from the top and bottom edges.
